10 January 2025

Primary eye care welcomes Government’s commitment to improve access to care

The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO), The College of Optometrists and the Federation of Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (FODO) back the Government's commitment to put patients in the driving seat and give them more control and choice over their care.

To deliver this vision for all patients in England it is vital for more care to be delivered out of hospital and closer to home. Without this change, hospitals will continue to struggle to meet the needs of our ageing population and patients will continue to suffer avoidable harm.
Primary eye care is ready to work with the Government and NHS England to make this much needed change a reality. In all communities across England, optometrists and dispensing opticians have the core clinical skills and infrastructure in place to treat more patients and help prevent avoidable sight loss owing to delays in hospital care.

It is essential that primary eye care is fully utilised as part of the government's reform plans for elective care for the benefits of patients. By delivering more eye care services in high street optical practices we can ensure that patients go to hospital only when they need to and are then seen more quickly. This will be better for patients and better for the NHS and taxpayers.

Notes for Editors  

This press release is the ABDO, The College of Optometrists and FODO response to three government announcements on 6^th January 2025: 

1. Power to patients as government sets out plan to cut waiting lists https://www.gov.uk/government/news/power-to-patient-as-government-sets-out-plan-to-cut-waiting-lists  
2. Deal between NHS and independent sector to cut NHS waiting lists https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deal-between-nhs-and-independent-sector-to-cut-nhs-waiting-lists  
3. PM sets out plan to end waiting list backlogs through millions more appointments  - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-sets-out-plan-to-end-waiting-list-backlogs-through-millions-more-appointments  

About us  

ABDO - The Association of British Dispensing Opticians is the professional body for dispensing opticians, the second largest regulated eye care workforce. ABDO is the sector lead on evidence-based guidelines and professional development for dispensing opticians. Contact [email protected]     

The College of Optometrists is the professional body for optometry. It is the sector lead on evidence-based guidance and champions the profession, defines best clinical practice, and enables optometrists to develop through high-quality training and qualifications. The College also invests in research and education and actively educates and advises the public. Contact [email protected]    

FODO is the leading national association for eye care providers working in primary and community care settings. Each year its members provide more than 80% of all NHS primary eye care. Its members include the full range of large and small employers who are the main workforce and infrastructure investors in NHS primary eye care.  Contact [email protected]      

The memberships across our organisations hold the key to delivering the government's aims for the NHS in eye care and delivering world-class primary eye care services for all within this Parliament.